Collar for recessed lighting fixtures, and other uses



3 Sheets-Sheet l s. BEBER EI'AL COLLAR FOR RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURES, AND OTHER USES Filed April 21, 1949 March 3, 1953 March 3, 1953 s. 1.. BEBER ETAL 2,630,235

COLLAR FOR RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURES, AND OTHER usEs Filed April 21. 1949 3- Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 5amue/ L Bebe Je r0 me Hfieiq LIA March 3, 1953 s. L. BEBEIR ETAL 2,630,235

COLLAR FOR RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURES, AND OTHER USES v Filed April 21. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 3, 1953 COLLAR FOR RECESSEDLIGHTING FIXTURES, AND OTHER USES! Samuel L. Beber and Jerome HfFeig, Los Angeles, Galif.

Application Aim-e21, 1949, seria1=No s's,7 54

(o1. ra a cranes. 1

Ihe device of this invention relates in general to recessed flush lighting fixtures, and is more specifically concerned with a collar or covering for the recessed box of such a fixture, although the principle involved in the construction of the hinge included in the structure is susceptible of other uses.

It is an object of thepresent invention to provide an improved collar assembly for a recessed lighting fixture which is formed of two elements, one element constituting a stationary detachable marginal finish for the recessed box of the fixture, the other element comprising a frame in hinged relationship to the stationary element, to support a lens, or other transparent or translucent member, the said other element being hingedly secured to the stationary element to permit ready access to the recessed box of the lighting fixture for such need as may be at hand, as for example, the replacing of lamps, making repairs, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel hinge construction between a swingab-le element and a stationary element wherein all surfaces relating to the forward face of the swingable element are flush with the stationary element and lie in a horizontal plane common to both of said elements. I

A-further object of the invention is to provide a hinged relationshipbetween a swingable ele- U ment and a stationary element, the swingable element being formed with tongues turned about a center, the stationary element being formed with integral off-set surfaces and having slots formed therein at the place of intersection of said oiT-seteurfaces to receive said tongues whereby upon assembly, the swingable element rests within and upon the innermost of said off-set surfaces and is flush with the outermost of said surfaces, said swingable element and said stationar element being joined by means of a pintle inserted through said tongues and bearing against the stationary element adjacent the intersection of said cit-set surfaces whereby the one element may beswung'with respect to the other.

The precedingly stated and other objects, features and advantages of the invention may be noted from the accompanying drawing, the detailed specification and the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention in theform of a recessed flush lighting unit.

2 which constitutes presentinvehtibh, b'emg'avrew taken as indicated by-line"2'"2'onFig. 1. M

Figure 3 is a view'of the opposite side ofthe collar.

Figure 4 is a view'similar'to Figure 2, except? ing that it is taken at an angle "and "shbws'the collarin partially 'eiitended position, aportio'n thereof being broknin v ew "of'the'position'fif the figure withrespect to Figure 2.

Figur'efi is a detail drawnto an enlarged'scale along line 55, riguriea howing the positioning of the several pieces or material involve in creating the flush hinge used to jointhestatio'nary and swingable elemehtsof the collar, dotted lines indicate the open position "of the frame within the collar. v I

Figure 6 is an'enlarge'd e evauenarview of a corner of the device as seen from the i'nne'rlside thereof with'a hinge'spacer strip 'removed'to more clearly illustrate the osition of the "slots through which the ton'gues of the 'swing'able element of the combination are inserted.

Figure 'Tis'a detail "sectional view taken along line 'i---'!, Figure 6, "a'n'd'i's "siin'ilarto Figurefi in full lines, except -that the collar is shown attached to'a lighting fixture box.

Figure 8 is another detail taken transversely of the 'hin'ge'of the'iinit similar toFigure Sand showing the hinged "elementin anlo'penposition.

Figure 9 is a' fa'c'e View of a modified form of collar for a reces's'ed lighting fixturefwhereinthe means fastening the collar "to the recessed "box are concealedunder the frame'thereof, Figure 10'is a'vi'w'similar to Figure a'e'xee 'r that here the frame has been removed to disclose the collarwith "recessed openings to receive a screwwith'the head flush'ther'ei'n so as not to interfere with the frame of the collar when in closed position.

Figurell is a sectional View taken substantially along 1ines ll-l I, Figure 1'0,showingin general the constructioninvolve'd in this "modified form of the invention. 7

Figure 12 is "a detail 'dr'awn'to an enlarged s'ca'lle showing "construction "genemny illustrated in Figure I1.

Figure 13 is'faplan'vi'e'w asseen along line l3'|3, Figure 12;'and Figure 14 is a detail drawn'to anenlar'gedscale showing the fastening means 'usjed'to 11016 the frame of the unit in closed position.

In the drawing the "referencecharacter i!) indicates-the collar of"this'invention 'used'upon a recessed"nushiigiiting" unit I2, and as shown tangular pressed metal shape or stationary element I4 which is adapted to cover the roughed-in opening in the ceiling in which the box I2a of the lighting unit I2 is positioned, and a swingable or shiftable cover I6 adapted to provide ready access to the interior of the box for such purposes among others, as cleaning and replacement of lamps etc.

The element I4, as aforementioned, is rectangular in form for the prime reason that this shape is generally preferred as a matter of economy in construction. The section of each side of element I4 is such as to have a relatively flat or horizontal inner portion I8, and an outer portion 20 which is flat and horizontal and is in a plane below the portion I8. The portions I8 and 20 are joined by a continuous S-shaped bend 22 extending around the element I4. The outer portion 20 is provided at its outer margin with an up-turned lip 24 which is adapted to contact with the ceiling 26 when the assembly is in functional position.

The element I4 is provided with one or more slots 28 located in or at the bend 22 and the slots are of sufiicient width to freely receive curled or rolled tongues 34 formed in the free ends of the tongue projections 36 which extend laterally of one side of the frame 38 of the swingable cover element I6 afore-mentioned. The frame 38, as shown in the drawing, is flat except for the inwardly turned tongues 34, and it is adapted to rest within the confines of the continuous bend 22 and against the part I8. A relatively small right angled strip of metal in the nature of a bracket 42 has a foot spot welded to the inner face of the frame 38 at each of the four sides thereof. The vertical legs 45 of bracket 42 form shoulders against which the edges of a translucent or a transparent plate 44 abut. Tabs 46 are struck from the legs 45 and are bent outwardly over the plate to retain the same in place within the frame 38.

Reference to the drawing will show that the degree of curvature effected at points 30 and 32 is such as to create a sufficient degree of off-set between portions I8 and 20 to permit the frame 38, when in closed position, to rest on portion I8 while its front face is flush with the front surface of the portion 20 of the collar.

Upon assembly of the cover element I6 with the collar element I4, which operation involves insertion of the tongues 34 through the slots 28, a single pintle 50 is inserted through the several tongues and lies upon or bears against the inner surface of the portion 20 where it joins the curved part 32. is spot welded to the inner face of the portion I8 preferably on the foot of the bracket 42 and is adapted to slightly space the lower face 51 of the flange 56 on box I2a from the tongues 34, when the collar is held in place against the ceiling 26 by means of the screws 54 which detachably join the collar and the flange 56. When the box I2a is in working position its flange 56 bears up against the margin of the opening provided in the ceiling 26 to receive the box. The frame is also provided with an opening 58 in registry with a threaded opening in the collar element I 4. Opening 58 passes a screw 59 which serves as a means of holding the frame element in closed position against the undersurface of the collar element, and which upon removal permits the frame to swing downwardly to a vertical or hanging position as shown in Figure 8, whereby access to the interior of the A fillet strip or spacer 4 box I 20, may be had for such utilitarian purposes as may need be.

In Figures 9-13, we show a modified form of construction wherein the collar element is detachably secured to the box I2a by means of screws 54a, the heads 55 of which are normally concealed under the frame 38 whereby the appearance of the unit is enhanced.

Figure 9 shows the unit as it appears without a reflector plate or bowl 44, while Figure 10 illustrates the collar without the frame and shows dimpled openings 60 formed in the portion I8 of the collar to provide flush setting for the flat heads 55 of the screws 54a as shown in Figure 12. As will be noted, in this form of the construction, the flanges 56 on the box I2a have been dispensed with as a means for attaching the collar thereto, thereby lessening the amount of metal used in the construction and hence tending to lower the cost thereof. We spot weld a clip 62 upon each of the inner faces of the box I2a which clips are aligned with the openings 60. Each clip has one of the legs thereof drilled and threaded to adjustably receive a screw 54a therein as shown in Figures 11 and 12, while the other leg thereof, that is, leg 62a, provides a support for sheets of thermal insulating material I2b arranged at the inner walls of the box. In this form of construction as well as in the previously described arrangement, flanges 64 upon opposed exterior faces of the box provide means of attaching the unit to timbers 66 or frame-work within the ceiling 26. The screw 59 extending through the frame 38 and into the collar I4 serves to hold the frame in horizontal position during normal use, and is removable to permit the frame to swing downwardly upon its hinge, as shown in Figure 8, for full and complete access to the interior of the box for such need as may be.

It is believed that the preceding description will clearly show that we have conceived a novel construction in collars or finish plates for recessed flush lighting fixtures, a finish plate which is pleasing in appearance and which is adapted to provide ready and convenient full access to the interior of the box upon which it is situated by the simple expedient of removing a single screw which permits the frame to swing downwardly upon the hinge thereof. This arrangement frees a workmans hands for the task at hand, saves time and labor, and eliminates the otherwise ever present possibility of dropping and. breaking the glass plate bowl positioned in the frame, and further, the hinge employed in the present construction is believed to be novel per se, in that the swingable frame alone is formed with rolled tongues to receive the pintle or pivot pin, the stationary element being merely slotted to receive the inwardly extending tongues, and providing a surface upon which the pintle rests.

Having thus described our invention in its presently preferred form, that which we believe to be novel and for which we seek Letters Patent is:

1. A structure applicable to a ceiling having an opening therein including, a box entering the opening and having a marginal flange bearing against the ceiling, a collar element, means releasably fastening the collar element to the flange to bear against the ceiling, the collar element having substantially flat parallel portions in spaced planes and joined by a curved part, there being openings through the curved part, a plate carrying frame having curled tongues projecting therefrom and through the openings, means carried by the tongues and bearing on the inner side of the collar element joining the frame to the collar element, and releasable means connecting the frame and collar element with the frame bearing on one of said portions of the collar element to be flush with the other of said portions.

2. A structure applicable to a ceiling having an opening therein including, a box entering the opening and having a marginal flange bearing against the ceiling, a collar element, means releasably fastening the collar element to the flange to bear against the ceiling, the collar element having substantially flat parallel portions in spaced planes and joined by a curved part, there being openings through the curved part, a plate carrying frame having curled tongues projecting therefrom and through the openings, means carried by the tongues and bearing on the inner side of the collar element joining the frame to the collar element, releasable means connecting the frame and collar element with the frame bearing on one of said portions of the collar element to be flush with the other of said portions, and a part in the collar engaging the flange so the frame is held in position where the tongues clear the flange.

3. A structure applicable to a ceiling having an opening therein including, a box entering the opening and having a marginal flange bearing against the ceiling, a collar element, means releasably fastening the collar element to the flange to bear against the ceiling, the collar element having substantially flat parallel portions in spaced planes and joined by a curved part, there being openings through the curved part, a plate carrying frame having spaced curled tongues projecting therefrom and through the openings, a single pivot pin carried by the tongues to bear against the ceiling, the collar element having substantially flat parallel portions in spaced planes and joined by a curved part, there being openings through the curved part, a plate carrying frame having curled tongues projecting therefrom and through the openings, means carried by the tongues and bearing on the inner side of the collar element joining the frame to the collar element, releasable means connecting the frame and collar element with the frame bearing on one of said portions of the collar element to be flush with the other of said portions, a plate holding bracket on the inner side of the frame and having a foot attached to the frame, and a spacer on the collar inward of the foot of the bracket and engaging the flange holding the tongues clear of the flange.

5. A structure applicable to a box inserted in a ceiling opening and having a flange bearing against the ceiling including, a collar, means connecting the collar to the box so it is stationary relative thereto and bears against the ceiling, the collar having two substantially flat portions in spaced parallel planes and a connecting part between said portions and having openings therethrough, a frame having curled tongues projecting therefrom and each extending through an opening and carrying a member bearing against the inner side of the collar to hold the frame joined to the collar, and means releasably holding the frame seated on one of said portions of the collar to be substantially flush with the other of said portions of the collar, the first mentioned means including screws engaged through the collar and held by the flange of the box.

SAMUEL L. BEBER. JEROME I-I. FEIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 572,217 Rebmann Dec. 1, 1896 1,187,534 Kossoy June 20, 1916 1,265,248 Reinhart et al. May 7, 1918 1,562,565 Koze Nov. 24, 1925 1,873,534 Brethen Aug. 23, 1932 1,883,507 Bond et a1 Oct. 18, 1932 2,143,767 Eichwald Jan. 10, 1939 

